Clutch for marine engines



Dec. 10, 1935. J. A Russo l CLUTCH FOR MARINE ENGINES Filed Oct. 12.1954 Patented Dec;l f.11),f` 1935 UNITED 'sTTEs PATENT oFFicE Ycnurenronssscmss l Joseph A. Russo, New Orleanaj. Application ombu- 12,1934. semi No. 148,119 z claims. (ci. isz-ss) This invention 4relates toimprovementsin frictionplates for use in a clutch of that type usedparticularly in connection with marine engines, and comprehends a.construction. including ta- 5 pering co-acting faces, so designed as toveliminate slipping after engagement. l

More particularly this development comprehends inclined contactingclutch -faces in which the angles of inclination of each plate is fromline across the structure so that, upon engagement, a positive lockingengagement is obtained. Other features will more'clearly hereinafterappear, by reference to the'accompanying specification and drawing,together with the appended claims, and'in which like characters ofreference designate correspondingA parts throughout the several views inwhich;

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section"` through the 2u) assembly. Figs. 2 and3 are perspective views of the clutch plate, and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing'the platesv in engaging position.

e5 Referring now to the drawing, reference character .I designates adrive shaft', and 2 the driven shaft. A conventional diierential,including the rotary casing 3, carrying the spider gears I which meshwith gear 5, fixed on the'iri've shaft I, and iixed gear 6 on the drivenshaft 2, is incorporated in the disclosure to illustrate the operationand position of the clutch assembly and its parts.- The gear casing 3includes a cylindrical housing 1 for the clutch and in which are xed theribs 8, by means of rivets 9, for positioning certain o! the clutchelements, as more clearly hereinafter described. The driven shaft2 isformed axially of the housing 1 with an enlarged portion Il slotted forthe reception of keys II, by means of which the alternate clutch'platesare positioned. The clutch plates are shown in perspective lin Figs. 2and 3. The clutch plates of Fig. 2 are typical as to disc form and theprovision of central opening Il, and notches I5 for seating an movementon the keys II fixed in slots formed in the shaft at I 0. Theimprovement in this plate resides in the provision of inclined faces I6which extend from opposite peripheral edges of the plate and merge atapproximately a medial line I1 across the structure. It will be notedthat the angle of inclination of the faces is such that the thickness ofthe clutch disc at its reduced center is about onehalf thethickness atthe opposite peripheral edges I8.

The clutch plate of Fig. 3 is notched at dlaopposite peripheral pointsinward to a medialmetrically opposite points I9 to receive the ribs 8,riveted in the clutch housing 1, and is formed with the central shaftopening 2li, of such diameter -as to travel lfreely about the shaftportion I0.

The faces 2l of thisdisc taper from a transverse central line outwardlyto opposite peripheral edges, so that, upon engagement, a perfect seatis possible throughout the entire surface, i. e.,

. the reduced medial transverse portion of one disc receives thethickened medial transverse portion 10 of the other disc. Thiscomplementary Vclutch plate arrangement, during actual engagement isshown clearly in Fig. 4.

Referring again to Fig. 1 it will be noted that filler yplte 22 isincludedto provide for the 15 proper gnment of the parts. A plate 24 islocated adjacent the outer plate,and carries the actuating fingers 25through which pressure is applied from cone 26 and suitable operatingmechanism.` An adjusting nut 21 is threaded 20 on the enlarged shaftextension 28 'and cooperates with the fingers l25, permitting regulationof the parts effecting the throw ofthe clutch. The

28 by means of thread lock 29.

-bodiments falling fairly within the ap/pended claims.

nut 21 is locked in position on the shaft extension A 25 The actuationof the cone 2i and the clutch parts thereby is conventional. Likewisethe opj eration of the reverse gear by the clutch band 30 shown insection in Figure 1 is well known in the l art.

30 The foregoing assembly provides a mechanism Y in which loss of power,due to slippage, is avoided and consequent wear is practically entirelyeliminated. The use of the cast iron 'clu h plates also reduces to aminimum the resistance on the frictional to positive engagement of ,thedrive\\.` and driven elements is eected without strain \\i\` upon theparts. It will be noted that the parts 40 are so designed as Ato beremovable for repair and replacement, and are interchangeable whendesired. l Modifications of the structureherein described may besuggestedto those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains,but it /is to be understood that my invention includes all emscope oftheI claim: 50 1. In combination with a drive and a driven shaft, a clutchincluding a pair of independently movable thrust plates, a disc formedwith in-Y clined angular faces extending from opposite pe ripheralvedges inward to a substantially central drive shaft,V a pair of clutchdiscs each having plain outer faces interposed between said thrustplates and adapted to be frictionally engaged by the opposed plain facesof said thrust plates, said clutch discs having oppositely inclinedsemi-circular faces extending from transverse. medial vlines across theopposed faces thereof, and means for positively moving one of saidthrust plates toward the other. whereby a progressive frictionalpositive engagement of said plates and 10 discs is effected withoutundue strain upon the drive and driven shafts.

l JOSEPH A. RUSSO

